Mercedes eyes Di Resta for 2013 21 | 05 | 2012
BATHGATE'S PAUL DI RESTA is being lined up to replace seven-times F1 world champ Michael Schumacher at Mercedes GP next season.
While the 42-year-old continues to struggle for pace this season, Di Resta has continued to impress despite his Sahara Force India car.
And though the 26-year-old Scot has long been linked with a switch to the German manufacturer, today's confirmation is the first official response by the team.
"Paul's on our radar," Mercedes CEO Nick Fry confirmed. "He has done a fantastic job, he's a nice guy, he's a great team player and he would be one of the drivers undoubtedly that, if Michael were to decide he didn't want to continue, we would look at.
"We haven't reached that time in our thinking yet, but we have all got a lot of admiration for Paul."
Tyre battle for Scot Paul di Resta in Spain
Although careful not to be critical of Schumacher, Fry admitted the German was likely to question his future if results don't improve.
"I am sure if we get to the end of this year and it is continues as it has done for the last few races I think he will probably be asking himself that question,” he continued. “There is time to go and we are not making any decisions yet."
And while Di Resta, preparing for this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix, sensibly avoided being drawn into the discussion, he has in the past admitted he would relish the prospect of moving to Mercedes.
"I'd love to drive for them," he admitted earlier this year. "I've got great friends and great support at Mercedes-Benz. I've been part of their programme for six years and I'm still very close to them now. I never say never.
"Right now I'm a Sahara Force India driver, so the focus is there. But in the future I want to be winning races and I'll make my decisions based on that.
Roadtest & Video: BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe
"Every racing driver wants to race for the best team they can, and obviously I would be delighted if Mercedes came knocking at my door.
"I've achieved a lot of success with them in the past, and at some stage it would be nice to think I could do a job for them in Formula One."
Schumacher, who has seen his current team-mate Nico Rosberg already win a grand prix this season, is known to be unhappy with certain aspects of F1 at the moment.
And days after he criticised the affect the Pirelli tyres are having on the cars' performances, Schumacher rammed into the rear of Bruno Senna's Williams in the Spanish Grand Prix.
Five races into the season, the German has twice finished 10th, and had three retirements. He faces another tough weekend in Monaco thanks the a five-place grid penalty he received for colliding with Senna.
Mercedes reveals new 'baby' CLS
In contrast to the struggles endured by Schumacher, Di Resta has already finished sixth in Bahrain this season.
A protegee of the Mercedes Young Driver Development Programme, the Scot won the 2006 Euro F3 Championship in a Mercedes-powered car.
The former McLaren Autosport Young Driver of the Year then switched to DTM where he won the championship for Merecdes in 2010.
Interestingly, Mercedes' first official reference to Di Resta being one of the drivers they would "look at", comes days after the Scot was linked with replacing Felipe Massa at Ferrari.
Mercedes reveals all-new G63 AMG
Keep up-to-date with all the latest news by following us on twitter.com/scotcars
Jim McGill